Hydraulic dispenser for collapsible tube containers



y 1953 w. HOULDSWORTH 2,638,

HYDRAULIC DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 12, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED IV'ASTAT'E HYDRAULIC DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CONTAINERS Wallace Houldsworth, Royal Oak, Mich.

Application anuary 12, 1948, Serial No. 1,857

This invention relates to a dispensing device and particularly to improvements in means for exerting pressure upon collapsible tubes containing semi-fluid or plastic material and controlling r the discharge of the material therefrom; I

. An important object of'pthis invention is to provide a. novel means for-dispensing the contents of collapsible fiexibletubes, such as the coni .ventional toothpaste and shavingcream containers or the like, which is simple in construction and operation and is inexpensive to manufacture.

1 Another important object of the invention is to provide a novel'dispensing device, of this character which may be incorporated as a part of the tube at the time of its manufacture or may be formed as separate unit capable of being assembled upon .a conventional type of dispensing tube. Another important object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this character which is sanitary and economical inuse and which "serves to positively expelthe'desired amount ofthe content material from a tube in a manner which prevents any back and forth movement of the content materialin the tube and also eliminates any possibility of breaking ;or crackingthe tube. A further important Object of this invention is v to provide a novel dispensing plate adapted to be assembled upon a collapsible dispensing tube and exert a pressure thereon to force the material to- ,ward and through a novel dispensing control cap. still further important object of this invention is to provide a novel cut-off cap capable of automatically functioning with a snap action to cutoff the how of the content materialand close the discharge openingof the tube. y

the invention, there isjprovided In carrying out ,a keymember wh ch may be permanently aifixed to the tube at the time of manufacture thereof to ,form a part of the sealing means thereof or can be attachably connected byhthe purchaseron the sealed end of a conventional dispensingtube.

Associated with the key in afnovel manner isan improvedsqueezingplate shaped so as to fit over [t e fla en se led end b th u e ith r. at the time of its manufacture or assembled thereon by the purchaser. Preferably associated with the .key end squeezing plate isa novel form of cap for the dispensing tube which functions --i n cooperation with the squeezing plate to control the discharge of the content material from the tube. The discharge cap is provided with a novel spring rneans which enables the cap to automatically return to closing positionwith a snap action after {manualpressure thereon has beenreleased.

" 1 Eating ethe 9bi adv nt a drm 8 Claims, (01. 222-97) rious features of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following specification,

appended, claims and accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of ,a dispensin ,tube having the elements of the present invention assembled thereon and showing in dottedv outline one of the positions assumed by the squeezing plate and key,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the discharge end of the tube showing the cap in closed position thereon, 1 k v Fig. 3 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional I view taken along line 3- -3 of Fig. 1, and

thereof which may. be turned or twisted by the Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the discharge end of the device showing in section the cap thereon.

Referring to the drawings, adispensing tube which may be of the conventional type of toothpaste and shaving cream tubes, is generally indicated at H). One end of the tube l0 converges to form a neck l2 through which the content material is discharged upon squeezing of the .tube. Mounted on the neck is an improved form, of cap generally indicated at M. The oppositeend of thetube I0 is sealed as in conventional practice andthe stem of a key'member indicated at 16 is constructed for engagement with the sealed end. The key, member cooperates with. a squeezing plate generally indicated at 18. p

, The stemof the key member l6 for the major portion ,of its length is of channeled formation and either may be slid over the sealed ,endof the tube III or can be clenched thereover. at the time of the tubes manufacture. The key member is provided with'a handle 20 on one projectingend user to wrap successive flattened portion ofi-the tube thereabout. and cause the advancement of the key and the squeezer plate toward the discharge end of the tube. The squeezer plate l8 may be assembled on the tube at the timeof its manufacture or later by the purchaser of the tube. The squeezer plate is generally in the form of a sleeve member comprising two converging side walls 22.22 corresponding in shape and formation to oneaanother which act uponopposite sides of the dispensing tube upon which it is fitted. These wall sections are-joined together by end walls Z k-2t of corresponding shape and formationto one another.

The, end walls extend at right angles to the tube engaging walls 22-.-22 and serve as bridging elements connecting the two side walls-together.

a The squeezing plate I8 is preferably'form'ed from a material so that the side and end wallsthereof space between, said side walls adjacent to the opposite'ends thereof and connecting the side walls together into a unit, said plate elements projecting rearwardly from the side walls crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the slot and each provided with an enlarged recess opening into the slot, a key member extending through the recesses of the plate elements and rotatable therein, said key member adapted to engage the closed end of the tube and upon rotation to efiect the rolling up of the tube on the key member to thereby draw flattened portions of the tube through the slot for the expulsion-of the tube contents.

2. In combination with a collapsible dispensing paste tube closed at one end and having a discharge opening at the other end, a body adapted to embrace the tube and slide longitudinally therealong, said body including a pair of oppositely disposed side walls arranged. angularly to one another and converging rearwardly of the tube, said side walls terminating short of actual convergence to form a transverse slot through which portions of the tube flattened by the side walls may be drawn, a pair of flat plate elements, one at each end of the slot, bridging the space between the side walls and connecting thesame together for unitary action on the tube,

said'plate elements extending rearwardly of the side wallsand crosswise to the slot and each provided with an enlarged recess rearwardly of the slot and opening thereinto, a key member '5 extending through said recesses of the plate elements and being channeled in formation for engaging the closed end of the tube, said key adapted upon rotation to effect the rolling up of the tube thereon to thereby draw the tube through the slot for the expulsion of the tube Q contents from the discharge opening at the other end of the tube.

3. In a device of the character described'for "attachment to a collapsible dispensing tube, a

-of the body and inclined angularly with respect to one another so that they converge rearwardly of the tube, said side walls terminating short of abutment to form a narrow transverse slot through which flattened portions of the tube may be drawn, a pair of plate members of corresponding shape and formation integrally secured to the opposite ends of said side walls and extending rearwardly of the tube, said plate members each provided with an enlarged recess disposed in line with said slot and opening thereinto, a rotatable key member of channeled formation adapted to be clenched to the closed end of the tube and upon rotation to effect the rolling up of the tube thereon to draw flattened portions of the tube through the slot for the expulsion of content material from the opposite discharge end of the tube.

4. In combination with a collapsible dispensing tube closed at one end and having a discharge opening at the other end, a body embracing the tube and movable longitudinally therealong, said body including a pair of oppositely disposed side walls arranged in converging relation to one another and terminating short of actual convergence to form a narrow transverse slot through which portions of the tube flattened by the side walls may be drawn, an outwardly projecting lip secured to the inner edge of each side wall adjacent to said slot cooperating with one another to form a rest upon which flattened wound por- 6 tions of the tube may bear, one or more flat plate elements secured to the side walls and extending rearwardly thereof crosswise to the slot and around the closed end of the tube, said one or more plate elements each provided with an enlarged recess rearwardly of the slot and opening thereinto, a key member extending through the recesses of said one or more plate elements and secured to the closed end of the tube, said key member adapted upon rotation to wind flattened portions of the tube drawn through the slot upon itself and to cause the wound portions toexert a forward thrust on said lips.

' 5. A device for attachment ,to a collapsible dispensing tube having one end shaped with a normally closed outlet for the discharge of content material therethrough and the opposite end sealed, said device comprising a pair of oppositely disposed side walls arranged in converging relation to one another such that the widely spaced ends of the walls are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a filled portion of the tube and such that the opposite ends of the walls terminate short of actual convergence to form a narrow transversely extending slot through which flattened portions of the tube are drawn, a rotary key member for connection to the sealed end of the tube and adapted upon rotation to wind successive flattened portions therearound, means connected to said side walls and carrying the key member therewith in trailing relation thereto as the side walls advance relatively toward the discharge end of the tube, and a lip connected to the end of each side wall forming the content material is progressively expelled there from, said device comprising a pair of oppositely disposed side walls arranged in converging relation to one another such that the widely spaced ends of the walls are spaced sufliciently apart to receive a filled portion of the tube and such that the opposite end of the walls terminate short of actual convergence to form a narrow slot through which flattened portions of the tube are drawn, a pair of flat plate elements disposed at the opposite ends of the slot and extending rearwardly of the side walls and crosswise to the slot, each plate element having the forward portion thereof connected to the adjacent side edges of said converging walls and stiffening the side walls against outward expansion as the side walls exert a squeezing pressure on the tube, each plate element further having a recess therein rearwardly of the slot and opening thereinto, a rotary key member engageable with the sealed end of the tube and adapted upon rotation to wind successive flattened portions of the tube therearound, said key member extending through said recesses of the plate elements and carried thereby in trailing relation to the side walls, and a lip connected to the end of each side wall forming the narrow slot and projecting outwardly laterally therefrom for substantially the full length of the slot, said lips cooperating to form a bearing surface on each side of the slot for receiying -fithe 2 forward! "thrust :im-po'sed therecn :by the-"successively flattened portions -'of the tube Wound-around the key member.

7. Al-device for' -a collapsible dispensing tube containing paste-like contentmaterial and: hav-. ing anon-removable cap secured to the discharge end-of the tube and movable toopen and: closed positions, said-device comprising a painof-op posi-tely disposed :side walls arranged' -in converging relation toone another and With/their outer-side 'edgesspaced apart approximately; the

"same diameter-of the tube, said side wallsterminating short of actual-convergence to form a narrow' slot and each having a lip on its respective sideflof the slot extending laterally away therefrom and cooperating with the'lip of the otherside Wall to form a rest, a pair of oppositely f d-i'sposed endplate elements extending crosswise of theslot and connectedto the converging side Walls .to stiffen the same against outward ex-..: -pansion, eachend'plate' element having-a=-recesstherein wider than the slot and opening into the slot, rctary key extending through the-recessesof the end plate elements in sub- --stantially parallel relationto the slotand-shaped -toengage the sealed-end of the'tubemsaidkey adaptedupon rotation to-winrl the tube whereon flatteni-ng said tube" as it is drawn through the slet, .the winding of the tube creating a thrust again'stthe rest forcing the device fcrwardjthus creati:ng a -=pressure=Within and forming a lock to" hold the c'o'ntent material or the tube under -such pressurewso: that when the cap onthe discharge end "of 'the tube is moved to open position: the content material-will be. automaticallyexpelled from "the tube.

#8. A device for a collapsible dispensing A tube containing paste like content material and-having: a non -removable valve secured to the .dis-

charge-end of l=the tube ancl'movable to open and closed positions, saiddevice-comprising a pair ot'oppositelyidisposed side Walls arranged in uonvergingrelation toone another, "and with their o'uter:edges spaced: apart approximately the same diameter "of the tube, said sidewallsterminating :short' or actual convergence -to= form "--a.-na1iI 0W Sl0t, and-each having a lip on its i respective,- side of the slot extending; laterally away therefrom and coeoperating with :the lip .xofthe other side wall to form, a,,rest, a; .pair

of oppositely disposed end plate elements extend- :ing crosswise, of the slot and connected, to the converging side 7 Walls and providing -means :iagainst outward, expansion thereof, each end key, extending: through the recesses of the, end

wind the tube thereon, While being ,iWOllHd' the tube isflattened as -itis drawn through the slot :which creates a thrust against the rest forcing -,thedevicelongitudinally forward, thus creating a .hydraulic. pressure Within the tube andforming a lock toholdtthe content material-of, the tube under such hydraulic pressure, to beusecl for sired.

WALLAGE M .-1 HOULDSWGR'IFH.

References Cited. in. the file 0f. thisipatent UNITED'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,057,538 Gammeter Apr; 1, 1913 1,104,457 Weber ,'July .21, 1914 1,310,083 Hunton July 15, 1919 1,537,010 Herschmann "M ay 5, 1925 1,559,565 Farnum Nov; 3, 1925 1,563,459 'Volland ",Dec. 1, 1925 1,668,658 Reutter May- 8, 1928 1,710,658 George Apr.."23,' '1929 1,916,944 Carter "July' 4, 1933 1,923,929 Jansen A ug.i"-2 2, 1933 1,961,173 Schutteet a1. ;June 5, 1934 2,011,742 Weber Aug. 20,; 1935 2,013,389 Lovrich ;:Sept. 3,;1935

FOREIGN; PATENTS Number Country 'Date 1 798,637 France Mar. 10, 1936 -86j244 Sweden L Mar.-5', 1936 

